Senna Leaf Powder – Organic

Senna Leaf Powder is made from the dried leaves of the Cassia senna plant, native to tropical regions of Africa and the Middle East. Finely ground for convenience, it has a mild, earthy flavor and is commonly blended into teas and herbal infusions.

Shelf-stable and easy to use, senna leaf powder can also be combined with other herbs and spices in traditional blends. With its long history of use across many cultures, it remains a versatile ingredient in herbal preparations today.

• First used in ancient Greek and Ayurvedic medicine, Arabian physicians first brought us the senna herb in the 9th century A.D. (1)
• Medlineplus.gov says: Senna is an FDA-approved nonprescription laxative. (2)
• Senna may support a natural laxative effect.
• Senna is used for constipation and to clear the bowel before tests such as a colonoscopy. (2)
• Achiarius was the first Greek physician to notice Senna, where all parts of the plant were used for its medicinal properties.

Senna is an FDA-approved nonprescription laxative (2)

The name senna is Arabic, as it was first described in the writings of Arabian physicians around the 9th century A.D. Cassia is from Hebrew meaning, “to cut off,” which refers to the fact that some species’ bark was peeled off to be used at once. Angustifolia refers to the narrow leaves of the plant. There are over 100 species of Senna; interestingly enough, cinnamon bark is a family member.

Senna a small perennial shrub that grows upwards around 2-3 feet tall and produces yellow (but can also be white or pink) candle-like flowers, which eventually turn into seed pods. The brown seed pods can grow up to 24 inches long. The pods are commonly picked in the fall when considered ripe, while the leaves are traditionally picked before or during the flowering phase. Senna is widely grown along parts of the Nile and parts of India, China, Celyon, and Morocco.

Senna tea is historically famous for acting as a strong laxative.

Senna is a well-known purgative and cathartic, which are agents that help stimulate the evacuation of the bowels. Similar to cascara, cape aloe, and rhubarb, Senna contains active ingredients anthraquinone derivatives and their glucosides which are well known to stimulate the nerves of the bowel, encouraging effective evacuations. These glycosides are constituents found in Senna known as sennosides.

Their function is to specifically irritate the large intestinal lining causing peristaltic action of the smooth muscles, which push stool through the intestines. Its other action is to assist in temporarily retaining fluid in the large intestine, resulting in a softer and more easily passable bowel movement.

Senna may be used for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, and possibly weight loss. (2)

Historically, Senna was used in combination with other cathartic (cape aloe, cascara sagrada, barberry, and turkey rhubarb) and vermifuge herbs like (garlic, wormwood, black walnut, and clove), which are known to possibly support the elimination of parasites and worms specifically from the intestines.

Senna should be used only as an individual herb in cases of acute constipation and only for as long as it takes to relieve the issue. In Ayurveda, Senna is also used to support various imbalances in the liver, skin, and blood.

Senna leaf, on average, contains 1.5-3% sennosides A and B, 10-12% mineral matter, 7-10% mucilage (galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid), and about 8% sugar and resins.

Some possible traditional uses of Organic Raw Senna Leaf Powder may include:

• May support healthy bowel movement
• May support skin health
• May support liver health

• An FDA-approved nonprescription laxative

Micronutrients of Senna Leaf include:

• Glycosides: (sennosides A, B, C, D)
• Other Phytochemicals: Rhein, chrysophanol, aloe-emodin, kaempferol, myricyl alcohol, salicvlic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, isorhamnetin, barbaloin, cathartic acid, anthraquinone derivatives

Suggested Use: Used only for cases of acute constipation. Mix ½ to 1 teaspoon in 8-10 oz of warm water.

Mixing Suggestions:

• May be combined with ginger and clove to relieve mild constipation possibly.
• Senna can also be combined as a tea with ginger and fennel to prevent intense gripping.

Important Warnings:

• Senna can worsen constipation if misused, and if used too often, your bowel movements can become dependent on the stimulating effect.
• Senna should only be used alone for acute constipation and only until the problem is resolved. Do not take this herb during pregnancy.
• Senna may cause loss of fluids, abdominal pain, and cramping, and prolonged use may affect electrolytes.
• To further support bowel health, it may be helpful to use this herb with other herbs, like cascara sagrada, barberry, and turkey rhubarb.

Miscellaneous Facts about our Organic Senna Leaf Powder

Ingredients: Organic Senna Leaf.

Certifications: Certified USDA Organic.

Parts Used: Raw Leaf.

Botanical Name: Senna alexandrina.

Other Names: Alexandrian Senna, Tinnevelly Senna, India/Indian Senna, Khartoum Senna, Shower Tree, Monkey Pod Tree, Ringworm Cassia, Purging Cassia, Candle Tree.

Origin: Grown and Harvested in India. Packaged with care in Florida, USA.